Understanding the Promotion & Tenure Process

Goals InstitutionTenure is a life-long commitment by the university to youSuccessful faculty – innovators, leaders, producersResearch objectives in line with institutional directions YouFaculty position that meets your own research and career objectivesMember of functional, innovative and forward looking department and institutionSecurity offered by tenure

What can I do now? Think about your steps all along the way Consistently evaluate your own progressGoalsMechanisms to get thereWays to learn from others and engage them Keep data on all your activities Ask for feedbackGrant writingPapersTeaching This process is the accumulation of years of effort THINK AHEAD!!

Understand the General Process Learn about the promotion and tenure process at your institutionAsk about the process at every stage if you have questions Request a copy of the policyBe sure when you are interviewing that the policy is consistent with your personal goals Understand the balance of teaching, research, and service that the institution AND the department will expect

General Process DossierSummary of your independent career at institutionInformation on all aspects of your careerResearch summary (publications, grants, citations, awards)Teaching summary (courses, evaluations, awards)Service summary (activities, awards)Inside reviews/lettersOutside lettersWriters identified by departmentAlso usually writers identified by individual Understand the timing of preparing the dossier, what you should submit and whenThink carefully about names for Outside Letters Understand the process completely Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare your materialsThink about your research/teaching summaryEnsure that your papers are submitted in a timely way Ask QUESTIONS if you do not understand Outside lettersHighly influential in decision processMay have opportunity to suggest namesDevelop relationships - create a network MARKET yourself!Post-decision: Ask about possibility for feedback from the letters (can be useful) Anticipate whom you would want to write letters and get to know those individuals

Publications Demonstrate your contributions Provide evidence of your independenceIssues of collaboratorsHow many?How much of your time? Used to assess your productivityNumbers vary widely among disciplinesType of publications expected also vary widelyDifferent expectations at different promotion points Used to assess the quality of work producedCitations, H-factor, Impact on the field

Factors Considered Research Teaching Service These factors combine to reach a decision but the specific combination varies widely across institutions

Research Publications/Citations/H-factorWay you are known for your work GrantsDemonstrate ability to secure funding for research PresentationsInvitations reflect status in the field Visibility/Engagement/FocusPresent a multiple conferencesEngage the leaders at those conferencesInvite leaders to your institution via department eventsReflect on level of focus in work and, if broad, engage multiple communities Keep your CV up to date Include students mentored at all levels (primary and secondary mentoring)UndergraduatesGraduate StudentsPost-doctoral Associates Include advising responsibilities at all levels Refereed publicationsSome institutions request an evaluation of % effort on eachCitations — check your “h-factor” Abstracts / Conference Proceedings PresentationsSeminars/Workshops/Panels/etc.PostersInvited talks at meetings

Teaching EffectivenessOften evaluated by studentsAsk assigned or selected mentor to provide review InnovationThink about ways to do it better/more effectivelyEngage students Range/breadthAssignments may be focused or broadBe prepared to teach beyond your comfort zone EnthusiasmConvey why you love what you doOccasionally volunteer for something extra Develop a portfolio of your teachingSyllabiHandouts, other notes on courses developedProblem setsOther written materialsComputer-based materials, notes on coursewareCopies of software developed for coursesExaminationsCopies of graded papers where there is a significant writing componentEvaluation by a colleagueStudent evaluations

Service DepartmentHelp your department accomplish the faculty’s goals UniversityEngage in the broad community, but wisely — most P/T committees are broad National OrganizationsChoose wisely for visibility with minimum time  K12/Outreach OpportunitiesChoose wisely, but make a difference

Sample Dossier Information on background Education Honors Teaching/advising/mentoring Citations Grants Publications

What Happens After Dossier is Prepared? Department reviewTenured faculty generally involved in decision to recommend or deny tenureDepartment chair writes letterSome schools have subcommittee School reviewOften school-level committee reviews and makes recommendation to deanDean makes recommendation Promotion/Tenure Committee (Provost)Makes recommendation to President President sometimes makes final decision Multiple levels of review — no one person makes the decision! Many voices are part of the process.

P/T versus Performance Reviews Ask your institution about frequency and nature of performance reviews Can be very helpful in guiding activities Opportunity for mid-term feedback Provide an internal view of accomplishmentsSome may have external lettersDossier can be similar to promotion dossier

Are there answers to my questions? How many publications do I need? How much grant funding? How many graduate students? Postdocs? How many committees? Which ones? How good must my teaching be? Does it matter? How do I know if I’m doing enough? There are no “right” answers to these questions, because the process is a composite of all of these and varies from place to place: FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR INSTITUTION - ASK QUESTIONS!!!

Compiled By: Karen Butler-Purry, Texas A & M Jason Hafner, Physics & Astronomy Kathleen Matthews, Natural Sciences Jennifer West, Bioengineering